By ms-za



All@ 18, 1959 w. H. NEWEY ET AL 2,899,790

CLOSURE APPLYING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 5l, 1956 3 Sheets-SMQ?l 1 INVENTR. M//f'ow /L/ Nen/ey WMCMM W. H. NEWEY ET AL CLOSURE APPLYING APPARATUS Aug. 18, 1959 Filed Dec. 31, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Aug. 18, 1959 .w. H. NEWEY. ET AL cLosuRE APPLYING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 3l, 1956 yxllllllllllllllllllll "Rw 301mm ATTORNEY United States Patent O CLOSURE APPLYNG APPARATUS William H. Newey, Hingham, and Walter S. Sterling,

Quincy, Mass., assignors to Pneumatic Scale Corporation, Limited, Quincy, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 31, 1956, Serial No. 631,775

14 Claims. (Cl. 53-321) rl`his invention relates to closure applying apparatus.

The invention has for an object to provide novel and improved closure applying apparatus for applying closure members to pressurized containers and which is characterized by novel closure gripping and applying mechanism particularly adapted to avoid depressing the pressure release elements of the pressurized containers during the application of the closure members to the containers in a novel, simple and efficient manner.

With this general object in view and such others as may hereinafter appear the invention consists in the closure applying apparatus hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specilication.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a closure applying chuck embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same partly in cross section;

Fig. 3 is a plan View as seen from the line 3-3 of Fig. l with a portion of the supporting head shown in dotted lines and illustrating the chuck locking arms in one position of operation;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the chuck locking arms in a different position of operation;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional View as seen from the line S--S of Fig. 1 illustrating air actuated mechanism for effecting opening and closing of the chuck;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of the air actuated mechanism in one position of operation taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6 shown in another position of operation;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view in cross section of the upper portion of the container to which the closure is applied showing an applied closure in dotted lines;

Fig. 9 is a vertical cross sectional view similar to Fig. l showing the chuck in closure applying position;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the same shown partly in cross section;

Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the closure applying mechanism shown in Fig. 9 and illustrating the applying chuck in an elevated position when engaged by a misaligned container;

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional View of a modified form of closure applying mechanism embodying the present invention for applying a screw closure to the container;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the same shown partly in cross section;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of a friction clutch embodied in the modified form of closure applying chuck as seen from the line 14-14 of Fig. 12, the supporting elements being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 15 is a plan view of cap grippingjaws in the moditied chuck as seen generally from the line 15-15 of Fig. 12; and

Fig. 16 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a moditied form of chuck opening mechanism applied to la."

structure similar to Fig. l.

In general the present invention contemplates novel closure applying apparatus having closure applyingmechg' anism comprising a plurality of closure applying heads,

each provided with a chuck unit adapted to grip and apply a closure to a container. The present invention is, illustrated as embodied in a rotary closure applying nia-.

chine of the type illustrated and described in the United States patent to Artnur C. Everett, No. 2,082,048, issued June l, 1937, and the present novel closure applying apparatus is particularly adapted for applyingv closures to a container having a pressurized material therein, such` as pressurized shaving cream, such containers being pro-vI vided with exterior elements adapted to be depressed to. The illustrated presrelease the pressurized material. l l surized container'is provided with a central stem which when depressed with a predetermined minimum force, say

about 2 to 4 lbs. pressure for example, is arranged to.V release the pressurized material, and in accordance with tne present invention Vthe closure gripping` element or chuck unit is mounted so as to'permit vertical yielding' movement of the chuck in the event that a portion'of the closure being applied to the container inadvertently engages and applies downward pressure against the central stem during the downward movement of the closure' with the stem will eiiect yielding of the closure applying unit to avoid depression of the stem. ln another embodiment of the invention wherein a screw closure sapplied to the upper threaded end of the stem, any mis'-I alignment, undue pressure or frictional resistance 'in a downward direction against the stem during the applyingv operation will be absorbed by the yieldable closure applying mounting so as to avoid depression of thestem.

Referring now to the drawings, the invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine for applying closures to containers, only a suicient portion of the'machine being herein illustrated to enable the invention to be understood. The construction and mode ofv operation of the closure applying machine, except as hereinafter' pointed out, may comprise that disclosed in'the Everett' Patent No. 2,082,048, above referred to, and to which reference may be made, and it is believed to be suicient' to state that in 'the operation of such a closure applying machine the containers are conveyed into closure apply` ing position by suitable conveying mechanism, and pro'- vision is made for automatically feeding the closures intoV a position to be automatically engaged by the closure gripping .and applying mechanism. Provision is '-als' -made for relatively moving the applying mechanism and' the container to bring the closure into engagementwith the top of the container to effect application of the closure. Y

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the closure applying head indicated generally at 10 comprises a chuck housing 12' mounted for vertical reciprocation in a cylindrical casing 14, and in operation the closure applying headsy are arranged to revolve about a. central supporting shaft, not shown, it being understood that the containers to be provided with closures are being conveyed into alignment with the closure applying heads 10, and provision is made for lowering and raising the chuck housings 12 into and out of closure applying engagement withfthe containersf Patented Aug. 18, 19,59L

during such revolving movement about the central shaft. As herein shown` each chuck housing 12 is provided with a cam roll 16 carried by a collar 18 secured to the housing, the cam roll 16 being extended through a slot in the casing and arranged to cooperate with a cam path formed in a stationary cam 20 secured to the central shaft. l'n operation the closure applying head is lirst lowered to receive a closure from a transfer arm indicated in dotted lines at 22 forming a part of the closure feeding mechanism, and upon receiving the closure the closure applying head 12 is elevated and is then again lowered to apply the closure to a container being moved along in alignment therewith, as fully described in the Everett Patent No. 2,082,048.

'The illustrated pressurized container 24 shown in Fig. 8 is provided with arcentral stem 26 cooperating with valve mechanism 28 arranged to be depressed to release the pressurized material through the annular space dened by the stem and an upstanding tubular member 30 forming a part of the container cover. The container is provided with two closure members, one closure 32 comprising a hollow conically shaped hood or cover having a lower rim portion 34 arranged to be pressed Within the rolled walls of a depressed portion of the top of the container. The upper end of the closure 32 is provided with an upwardly extended central sleeve portion 36 arranged to surround the tubular portion 3) and the central stem 26 and also providing an annular space between the stern and the sleeve. The hood or cover l32 is also provided with an outlet opening 38 communicating with the annular space and through which the pressurized material may escape when released by depressing the central stem. The second closure member 40, shown in Fig. l2, comprises a screw cap arranged to be applied to the threaded portion of the upper end of the central stem 26, the cap 40 having a cylindrical portion or rim 41 extending within the sleeve 36 and a cylindrical portion or rim 51 surrounding the sleeve 36, the outer rim portion 51 engaging with and seating against the top of the closure 32. In use, the screw cap closure 40 is unscrewed a short distance to elevate the same away from engagement with the top of the closure 32 whereupon the stem 26 may be depressed to release the pressurized material as described.

-In accordance with the present invention provision is made for applying the press lit closure 32 and the screw capl closure 40 in two different embodiments of the invention having dilerent closure gripping elements, but each having in common provision for mounting the grinning elements in a manner such as to permit vertical yielding movement of the gripping element in the event that any portion of the closure isV slightly msaligned with relation to the central stem 26 so as to avoid application of downward pressure on the stem and release of the pressurized material during the applying operation.

YSince only a pressing operation is required in the em bodiment of the invention for applying the hood or cover member 32, as illustrated in Figs. l to l1, it will be evident that no rotary movement of the chuck on its own axis is required in this embodiment and reference tothe Everett Patent No. 2,082,048 contemplates the elimination of the rotating mechanism therein shown. However, in the embodiment of the invention for applying the screw closure or cap 40 illustrated in Figs. l2 to l5 the chuck housing 12 is arranged to be rotated on its own axis during the application of the closure in the manner illustrated and described in the Everett patent.

Referring now to Fig. 1, in the embodiment of the invention for applying the press fit hood member 32 the chuck or gripping unit indicated generally' at 42 includes a resilient gripping element comprising an annular member 44 of rubber or like resilient material generally conically shaped and provided with a laterally extended flange 43 at its upper end. The gripping ele ment `44 is frictionally supported ou the lOWCf Gnd, 45

of a spool-shaped member 46, the end 45 being extended into a central opening in the upper end of the resilient gripping element. The lower end of the resilient gripping element is slightly tapered and provided with a smaller central opening 48 arranged to frictionally t over the top of the sleeve portion 36 of the hood member 32. The spool-shaped supporting member 46 is mounted for vertical movement in a retaining plate 5t) secured to the lower ange of a hollow extension 52, the upper flange of the extension being attached to the lower end of the chuck housing 12. The supporting spool 46 is provided with upper and lower flanges engageable with the upper and lower surfaces of the retaining plate 50 for retaining the spool in the chuck and for limiting its vertical movement. tion of the extension 52 is provided with a spring 54 for normally urging the supporting spool downwardly, as shown in Fig. l, the spring 54 being such as to yield upon an upward force of less than the predetermined minimum force required to depress the central stem 26.

In operation the resilient gripping element 44 is rst opened and lowered over the sleeve end 36 of the press t closure 32, as shown in Fig. l, and in order to open the resilient element 44 a ring 56 is provided which is normally disposed immediately below the ange 43 of the gripping element. The ring 56 is supported by a pair of rods 5S mounted for vertical reciprocation in the extension 52, the upper ends of the rods being carried by a cross bar 60 mounted on the upper end of a piston 62 operating in an air cylinder 64 disposed within the housing 12. As illustrated in detail in Figs. 6 and 7, the piston is normally urged in its downward position by a spring 66 and the cylinder is provided with an air inlet 68 counected to a source of compressed air by a pipe 70. In operation when the air is turned on, the ring 56 is elevated to engage the ange 43 of the resilient gripping element. In order to hold the spool 46 down at this time so as to prevent vertical movement thereof and to permit deformation and opening of the resilient gripping member, a pair of locking arms 72 pivotally mounted at 73 in the plate 50 are provided. The arms 72 are pro vided with cutout portions 74 for engagement with the grooved portion of the spool above the lower ange of the spool. The arms 72 are beveled at their outer edges, as shown in Fig. 2, for cooperation with cam notches 75 formed in the rods 58 and are normally spread apart by a spring 76 extended between the ends of the locking arms, as shown, to urge the beveled edges against the rods 58, the latter serving as limiting stops to maintain the arms in their spool retaining position as shown in Fig 3. However, when the ring 56 is in its lowered position, as shown in Fig. l0, the beveled edges of the arms 72 are urged into the notches 75 to etect spreading apart of the arms and release of the spool to permit the closure gripping and applying unit to yield upwardly in the event of misalignment of the stem 26 relative to the closure dur ing the applying operation, such condition being illustrated in Fig. l1.

In operation when the entire chuck housing 12 together with its attached closure gripping and applying unit 42 is lowered into operative engagement with the closure to pick up the same from the transfer arm 22, the air is turned on to effect elevation of the ring 56, and during the initial portion of the upward movement of the rods 58, the locking arms 72, which are normally spread apart and engaged in the noches 75, are urged inwardly by the beveled portions of the notches into spoo-l retaining position. Thereafter, upon continued upward movement of the ring 56 into engagement with the flange 43 the resilient gripping element 44 will be spread outwardly and opened, as shown in Fig. l, the lowering movement of the chuck housing 12 presenting the open gripping element over the extended portion of the sleeve 36. It will be observed that the lower flange of the spool is beveled on its under'- side to assist in the deformation of the gripping element The hollow por- 5, to effect opening thereof when the ring is 'raised into engagement with the flange 43 of the gripping element 44.

At this time the air is turned oi to permit the ring to re-l turn to its normally lowered position, the arms 72 again engaging the notches 75 to permit spreading apart thereof and release of the spool 46, the gripping element 44 returning to its normal position to grip the closure element 32, as shown in Fig. 9. In the continued operation of the machine the chuck housing 12 is elevated with its closure and is then again lowered into operative engagement with the container moved along in alignment therewith, and in normal operation the sleeve 36 of the closure 32 will t over and around the central stem 26 of the container with ample clearance, and upon further lowering movement the lower rim portion 34 will engage within the rolled walls of the depressed portion of the top of the container and be frictionally pressed therein. It will be understood that the spool mounting 46 is free to yield upwardly during the pressing operation against the spring 54, and although this spring 54 is adapted to yield at a predetermined pressure, less than the pressure required to depress the stem 36, yet the pressure required to press the hood closure 32 onto the top of the container is considerably less than such predetermined minimum pressure so as to eect the pressing operation with a minimum of yielding movement of the spring and the spool mounting. Thereafter, the air will again be turned on to elevate the ring 56, and the arms 72 will again be ur'ged inwardly to hold the spool mounting 46 from yielding whereby to open'the gripping element 44 and release the applied closure whereupon the chuck housing isagain elevated and the ring 56 returned to its normal position in readiness for a subsequent cycle of operation. It will be `understood that in actual practice substantial misalignment rarely occurs except in those instances wherein the closures or the containers are defective or non-uniform in some respect, and that when such misalignment does effect elevation of the gripping and applying unit, the operator will stop the machine and remove the defective closure and container. It will also be understood that in the event of a relatively slight misalignment the resiliency of the gripping element 44 is sufficient to compensate for such slightrmisalignment and to urge the cooperating parts into alignment and to successfully apply the closure to the container,- any undue frictional resistance bein-g relieved by the spring 54.

In practice the air may be automatically turned on and off to open and close the gripping element in timed relation to the closure applying operation in any usual or preferred manner, such for example as by cam operated valve means similar to that illustrated and described in the Everett Patent No. 2,705,101, issued March 29, 1955, to which reference may be made. As seen in Figs. 6 and 7, the air cylinder 64 is provided with a relatively small exhaust port 65 arranged to release the air trapped in the line through passageway 67 in the piston head when the air is discontinued.

In a modified form of the invention, as illustrated in Fig. 16, the air actuating mechanism may be eliminated and replaced by a solenoid 75 which may be connected in a circuit, not shown, having timing switches arranged to actuate the solenoid to effect opening and closing of the resilient gripping element in timed relation to the closure transferring and applying operations.

VFrom the description thus far it will be seen that the pressurized container has been provided with a hood or cover member 32, as illustrated in Fig. 8, the top of the sleeve member 36 being substantially ush with the top of the threaded end of the stem 26 in its assembled form. The container in this condition is then discharged from the lirst machine and delivered to a second similar machine having similar closure applying heads but provided with a different type of closurer gripping element adapted to grip and apply a screw closure 40 to the threaded upper end of the pressure release stem 26. Referring now to Figs. 12 and 13, the closure gripping element 6, therein illustrated comprises a pair of semicircular ser-` rated gripping jaw members 80, 82, see also Fig. 15, which are pivotally mounted on studs 84 carried by a jaw supporting member 86 mounted for vertical movement in a retaining plate 88 secured to the lower flange of a hollow extension 90, the upper ilange of the extension being attached to the chuck housing 12. In this embodiment of the invention it will be understood that the chuck housing 12 in addition to being capable of vertical reciprocation in its supporting casing 14, as described, is also adapted for rotation on its own axis to effect application of the screw closure in the manner illustrated and described in the Everett Patents Nos. 2,082,048 and 2,705,101.

The gripping jaws 80, 82 are urged inwardly into a closed position by springs 92 interposed between an upper wall of the supporting member 86 and a lateral extension 94 from each jaw. As ilfustrated in Fig. l2, the supporting member 86 is provided with shouldered portions 95, 96 for retaining the member within the plate 88 and for limiting the vertical movement therein, and the supporting member 86 is connected to rotate with the chuck housing 12 through a friction clutch indicated generally at 98. The friction clutch 98 includes a driving member 100 loosely mounted on a central stud 102 adjustably secured by a set screw 103 to the supporting member 86 and is provided with lateral extensions 104 cooperating with grooves 106 formed in the hollow extension 90. The driving member 100 is provided with a friction facing material 108 for engagement with similar facing material 110 secured to the upper end of the supporting member 86 which comprises the frictionally driven member. A spring 112 interposed between the head 114 of the central stud and the upper face of the driving member 100 is arranged to yieldingly urge the friction members together. Thus, the supporting member 86 and the clamping jaws 80, 82 and friction drive unit 98 carried thereby comprise an assembled unit capable of vertical movement in the retaining plate 88, and in order to hold the unit in its downward position with the upper shoulder 96 resting against the upper surface of the plate 88 a larger diameter spring 116 is interposed between the upper wall of the hollow extension 90 and the upper face of the driving member, as shown, the spring 116 being capable of yielding at a predetermined upward pressure of less than the pressure required to depress the central stem 26 and release the pressurized material.

The mechanism Afor opening and closing the clamping jaws 80, 82 may comprise the air actuated mechanism shown in Fig. l and includes the ring 156 supported by the rods 158 arranged to be elevated by the air cylinder shown in Fig. 1 and through cam operated valve control mechanism of the type illustrated and described in the Everett Patent No. 2,705,101. Thus, in the operation of the closure applying machine for applying the screw cap closure the chuck housing 12 is lowered into operative position to receive a closure 40 from its transfer arm,

and during the lowering operation the ring 156 is elevated to engage the underside of the lateral extensions 94 of the gripping jaws 80, 82 to rock the same outwardly to.

their open position. .When the open jaws surround the closure 40 the ring 156 is lowered to permit the springs 32 with a predetermined tightness the friction clutch will Y slip to discontinue further rotary movement of the closure gripping unit. It will be apparent that vertical ad-Y justment ofthe stud 102 by the set screw 103 will vary the tightness of the losure. Thereafter the ring 1561's again elevated to open the gripping jaws 80, 82 and release the closure whereupon the chuck housing is again elevated in readiness for a succeeding cycle of operation. During the downward movement of the chuck housing to eiect the appication of the closure any downward pressure applied to the stem beyond a predetermined pressure less than the releasing pressure will be relieved by upward movement of the gripping unit in its plate member 88 against the pressure of the spring 116 so as to prevent a build-up of pressure sufficient to press the stem 26 downwardly during the application of the closure 40. Also, in the event of misalignment or off-center engagement of the closure 40 with the stem 26 or the closure 32 the gripping unit will also be urged upwardly against the pressure of the spring 116 to prevent release of the pressurized material or damage to the misaligned parts. However, in practice such misalignment rarely occurs except in the event of defective or non-uniform closures or containers, any relatively slight misalignment being compensated for by the cooperation of the engaging parts being assembled which will tend to center themselves during the downward and rotary movement of the closure applying chuck. Thus, the inner rim 41 of the closure may be slightly tapered, as shown, to cooperate with the upper end of the sleeve portion 36, so that any slight misalignment will be corrected by the cooperation of the tapered surface with the sleeve, the resiliently clamped jaws 80, 82 being free to rock slightly to accommodate such relatively slight misalignment.

It will be understood that the spring 116 is of sufficient strength to prevent upward movement of the chuck unit when it is engaged by the ring 156 to open the jaws against the resistance of the relatively weaker springs 92.

From the above description it will be seen that the present closure applying apparatus is particularly adapted for applying closures to pressurized containers having exterior elements adapted to be depressed to release the pressurized material, the present closure gripping and applying mechanism being mounted to yield vertically when it meets a predetermined resistance of less than the force required to depress the exterior element so that in the event of misalignment of the closure and container or undue frictional resistance during the closure applying operation the mounting will yield upwardly to prevent jamming of the parts and to avoid depression of the pressure release element during said applying operation.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. Closure applying mechanism particularly adapted for applying closures to pressurized containers having exterior elements adapted to be depressed to release the pressurized material comprising a vertically reciprocal chuck housing, a chuck unit including a closure gripping element carried by said housing and mounted for limited vertical movement therein for receiving and gripping a closure for application to a container, and resilient means for normally maintaining the closure gripping element in its vertically extended position relative to the housing, said resilient means permitting vertical retracting movement of the gripping element relative to the housing when the gripping element meets a predetermined resistance less than the force required to depress said pressurized material releasing element whereby to prevent inadvertent depression of said releasing element during the downward movement of the housing to apply the closure, the mounting for said gripping element comprising a retaining plate, and a supporting member mounted for vertical movement in said retaining plate, said supporting member having upper and lower shouldered portions for limiting the vertical movement of the supporting member in said plate.

2. Closure applying mechanism as defined in claim l wherein the resilient mounting includes a spring arranged coaxially ofthe gripping element and adapted to be depressed when it meets a predetermined resistance of less than the force required to depress said exterior element.

3. Closure applying mechanism particularly adapted for applying closures to pressurized containers having exterior elements adapted to be depressed to release the pressurized material comprising a chuck housing, a chuck unit including a closure gripping element carried' by said housing for receiving and gripping a closure for application to a container, means for resiliently mounting said chuck in the housing to permit vertical yielding movement of the chuck when it meets a predetermined resistance less than the force required to depress saidV exterior element whereby to prevent inadvertent depression of said element during the applying operation, and relatively movable means engageable with the gripping element for opening and closing said chuck, said relatively movable means including an annular member engageable with outward laterally extended portions of said gripping element.

4. Closure applying mechanism particularly adapted `for applying closures to pressurized containers having exterior elements adapted to be depressed to release the pressurized material comprising a chuck housing, a chuck unit including a closure gripping element carried by said housing for receiving and gripping a closure forV application to a container, means for resiliently mounting said chuck in the housing to permit vertical yielding movement of the chuck when it meets a predetermined out of operative engagement with said gripping element;

5. Closure applying mechanism particularly adapted for applying closures to pressurized containers having exterior elements adapted to be depressed to release thev pressurized material comprising a chuck housing, a chuck unit including a closure gripping element carried by said housing for receiving and gripping a closure for application to a container, means for resiliently mounting said chuck in the housing to permit vertical yielding movement of the chuck when it meets a predetermined resistance less than the force required to depress said exterior element whereby to prevent inadvertent depression of said element during the applying operation, relatively movable means engageable with the gripping element for opening and closing said chuck, said relatively movable means including an annular member engageable with outward laterally extended portions of said gripping element, and electrically operated means including a solenoid for moving said annular member into and out of operative engagement with said gripping element.

unit including a closure gripping element carried bv said housing for receiving and gripping a closure for application to a container, means for resiliently mounting said chuck in the housing to permit vertical yieldingv movement of the chuck when it meets a predetermined `resistance less than the force required to depress said exterior element whereby to prevent inadvertent depression of said element during the applying operation, said closure gripping element comprising an annular resilient rubberlike gripping element having a central opening and,

provided with a flange at itsrupper end, and a relativelyA eect spreading of said opening to receive a closure.

7. Closure applying mechanism particularly adapted for applying closures to pressurized containers having exterior elements adapted to be depressed to release the pressurized material comprising a chuckv housing, a chuck unit including a closure gripping element carried by said housing for receiving and gripping a closure for application to a container, meansfor resiliently mounting said chuck in the housing to permit vertical yielding movement of the chuck when it meets a predetermined resistance less than the force required to depress said exterior element whereby to prevent inadvertent depression of said element during the applying operation, said closure gripping element comprising an annular resilient rubberlike gripping element having a central opening and provided Ywith a flange at its upper end, a relatively movable annular member engageable with said ange to effect spreading of said opening to receive a closure, and means for locking said chuck unit against vertical yielding movement during the chuck-opening operation.

8. Closure applying mechanism particularly adapted for applying closures to pressurized containers having exterior elements adapted to be depressed to release the pressurized material comprising a chuck housing, a chuckl unit including a closure gripping element carried by said housing for receiving and gripping a closure for application to a container, and means for resiliently mounting said chuck in the housing to permit vertical yielding movement of the chuck when it meets a predetermined resistance lms than the force requires to depress said exterior element whereby to prevent inadvertent depression of said element during the applying operation, said closure gripping element comprising an annular resilient rubberlike gripping element having a central opening and provided with a flange at its upper end, a relatively movable .annular member engageable with said flange to elect spreading of said opening to receive a closure, and means for locking said chuck unit against vertical yielding movement during the chuck opening operation, said locking means being operative to automatically lock the chuck mounting from vertical yielding movement upon movement of the annular member into spreading engagement with the resilient gripping element.

9. Closure applying mechanism particularly adapted for applying closures to pressurized containers having exterior elements adapted to be depressed to release the pressurized material comprising a chuck housing, a chuck unit including a closure gripping element carried by said housing for receiving and gripping a closure for application to a container, means for resiliently mounting said chuck in the housing to permit vertical yielding movement'of the chuck when it meets a predetermined resistance less than the force required to depress said exterior element whereby to prevent inadvertent depression of said element during the applying operation, said closure gripping element comprising an annular resilient rubberlike gripping element having a central opening and provided with a flange at its upper end, a pair of vertically reciprocable rods and an annular member supported by said rods and engageable with said lla-nge to effect spreading of said opening to receive a closure, and means for locking said chuck unit against vertical yielding movement during the chuck opening operation including a pair ofl pivotally mounted arms spring pressed outwardly and moved inwardly into chuck locking position by engagement with said rods, said rods having notches arranged to receive said arms when the annular member is in its lowered position relative to said ange to permit outward spreading of said locking arms to release said chuck unit.

10. Closure applying mechanism particularly adapted for Iapplying closures to pressurized containers having exterior elements adapted to be depressed to release the pressurized material contained therein comprising a reciprocal chuck housing, a chuck unit including a closure gripping element carried by said housing and mounted for reciprocal movement therein for grippingand receiving a closure for application to a container, and resilient means for normally maintaining the closure gripping element in an outwardly extended position relative to thev housing, said resilient means permitting the gripping element to move inwardly relative to the housing when the gripping element meets a resistance force which is less than the force required to depress said exterior element to release the pressurized material from within the container to prevent the releasing element from being' inadvertently depressed during the downward movement of the housing and application of the closure to the container, the mounting for said gripping element comprising a retaining plate, and a supporting member mounted for vertical movement in said retaining plate, said supporting member having upper and lower shouldered portions for limiting the vertical movement of the sup-y exterior elements adapted to be depressed to release thel pressurized material comprising a vertically reciprocal` chuck housing, a chuck unit including a closure gripping element carried by said housing and mounted for limited vertical movement therein for receiving and gripping a closure for application to a container, and resilient means for normally maintaining the closure gripping element in its vertically extended position relative to the housing, said resilient means permitting vertical retractingmovement of the gripping element relative to the housing when the gripping element meets a predetermined resistance less than the force required to depress said pressurized material releasing element whereby to prevent inadvertent depression of said releasing element during the downward movement of the housing to apply the closure, `said closure gripping element comprising a pair of pivotally mounted gripping jaws resiliently held in their closed position, and independently operated vertically reciprocable means engageable with said jaws to effect opening thereof to receive a closure.

l2. Closure applying mechanism particularly adapted for applying closures to pressurized containers having exterior elements adapted to be depressed to release the pressurized material comprising a vertically reciprocal chuck housing, a chuck unit including a closure gripping element carried by said housing and mounted for limited vertical movement therein for receiving and gripping a closure for application to a container, and resilient means for normally maintaining the closure gripping element in its vertically extended position relative to the housing, said resilient means permitting vertical retracting movement of the gripping element relative to the housing when the gripping element meets a predetermined resistance less than the force required to depress said pressurized material releasing element whereby to prevent inadvertent depression of said releasing element during the downward movement of the housing to apply the closure, said closure gripping element comprising a pair of pivotally mounted gripping jaws having lateral extension portions, said jaws being resiliently held in their closed position, and independently operated vertically reciprocable means engageable with said jaws to effect opening thereof to receive a closure, said independently operated means including an annular member engageable with the lateral extensions of said pivotally mounted jaws, and a friction clutch connected between the chuck housing and said chuck unit.

13. Closure applying mechanism particularly yadapted for applying closures to pressurized containers having exterior elements adapted to be depressed to release the pressurized material comprising a vertically reciprocal chuck housing, a chuck unit including a closure gripping element carried by said housing and mounted for limited vertical movement therein for receiving and gripping a closure for application to a container, and resilient means for normally maintaining the closure gripping element in its vertically extended position relative to the housing, said resilient means permitting vertical retracting movement of the gripping element relative to the housing when the gripping element meets a predetermined resistance less than the force required to depress said pressurized material releasing element whereby to prevent inadvertent depression of said releasing element during the downward movement of the housing to apply the closure, and independently operated vertically reciprocable means engageable with said gripping element for effecting opening and closing of the same to receive and release the closures.

14. Closure applying mechanism particularly adapted for applying closures to pressurized containers having exterior elements adapted to be depressed to release the pressurized material comprising a vertically reciprocal chuck housing, a chuck unit including a closure gripping element carried by said housing and mounted for limited vertical movement therein for receiving and gripping a closure for application to a container, and resilient means for normally maintaining the closure gripping element in its. vertically eirtended position relative to theV housing,v said Vresilient'means permitting vertical retracting move-v ment of the gripping element relative to the housing when ther gripping element meets a predetermined resistance less than the force required to depress said pressurized material releasing element whereby to'prevent inadvertent depression of said releasing element during the downward movement of the housing to apply the closure, and independently operated vertically reciprocable means engageable with said gripping element for effecting opening and closing of the same to receive and release the closures, and means for locking the gripping element in its extended position relative to the housing to prevent retraction thereof during engagement of said independently operated means with the gripping element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,076,631 Gantzer Apr. 13, 1937 2,130,317 Clarke Sept. 13, 1938 2,409,899 Resina Oct. 22, 1946 2,684,141 Pim July 20, 1954 

